The role of memory in interpreting

Interpreting can often feel like an Olympic sport. It’s a form of mental athletics, demanding speed, cognitive agility and teamwork.

We have to listen, understand, remember, interpret, and convey the message accurately, in the right tone – all in seconds. Over and over again.

It’s an incredibly intense endeavour, which is why interpreters usually work in pairs, taking turns to interpret, then resting and supporting. For simultaneous interpreting, for example, we’ll usually swap every half an hour, because it’s just not possible to sustain that level of attention for prolonged periods. It’s like competing in an Olympic relay!
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Just like professional sports, interpreting demands disciplined training. To cope with the speed of live speech, for example, we learn special memory techniques such as visualisation and chunking.

Visualisation turns spoken words into simple images that help us remember what’s been said, while chunking groups information into manageable units, such as themes or categories, because a few structured chunks are easier to remember than lots of individual details.

We also make use of notes. With consecutive interpreting, where we need to hold several minutes of speech in our heads, we’ll create a visual sketch of what’s been said. With simultaneous interpreting, we’ll just jot down any keywords that must be repeated verbatim, such as dates, names or acronyms.

Memory can be impaired by stress and fatigue, which is one reason why I’m so passionate about rest and wellbeing. I learned long ago that getting enough sleep, exercise, and downtime is essential for peak performance.

Acqua di Parma’s CEO on the Italian art of living

Few brands feel as quintessentially Italian as Acqua di Parma. Its sunshine-yellow boxes always make me smile when I spot them at Duty Free on work trips, and I often pick up a bottle as a special gift for my dearest friends.

So I was fascinated to hear a podcast interview with the brand’s CEO, Giulio Bergamaschi, talking about how Acqua di Parma has endured for more than a century.

He made an interesting observation about the contrast between French luxury, often associated with opulence, and Italian luxury, rooted in the concept of Bello e Ben Fatto: beauty exquisitely crafted by artisans.

He explained how this lineage reaches back to Renaissance humanism, where makers were encouraged not just to perfect technique, but to take a creative “step aside” and add something of themselves.

He also told a wonderful story about how Acqua di Parma’s Colonia fragrance became famous in the 1950s and ’60s, when Rome’s Cinecittà studios hosted big Hollywood productions and iconic films like Fellini’s ‘La Dolce Vita’.

Film stars and VIPs had their suits made in Italy, and their tailors would give each finished suit a final spritz of Colonia. The stars took this little piece of Italy home with them, helping the fragrance’s fame spread worldwide.

Bergamaschi regards Acqua di Parma as an expression of the Italian Arte de Vivre (art of living). A core element of this is mindfulness: finding the beauty in every day and bringing value to every day of your life through your actions, rituals, and gestures. I couldn’t agree more!

What personality traits do the best interpreters share?

I often talk about the added value a top interpreter brings to meetings beyond language skills, so I was interested to read recent academic research on the topic.

A study in Frontiers in Education asked interpreter trainers, corporate clients and professionals to rank personality traits essential for success.

• Cognitive flexibility was ranked as the most important characteristic. Interpreters need to adapt quickly to different speaking styles and accents, unfamiliar jargon and technical hiccups.
• Emotional stability and resilience came next. In high-pressure settings, we must stay calm and composed, even when others are not.
• Confidence and assertiveness were also rated highly. Interpreters need to deliver with clarity and conviction so that your message lands with its intended impact.
• Empathy and cultural sensitivity are essential for bridging cultural gaps and ensuring nothing gets lost in translation.
• And finally, integrity, meticulousness and self-discipline underpin confidentiality, accuracy and reliability.

These qualities are exactly what I look for when building teams through my agency, One Stop Language Solutions.

I search for dynamic, culturally-aware communicators who bring professionalism and poise to every interaction. High emotional intelligence (EQ) is the difference between a competent interpreter and an excellent one.

How to make hybrid meetings work

I’ve been organising and interpreting for lots of hybrid meetings recently. This is where participants gather in person, but some attendees and often all interpreters dial in remotely.

It’s popular with companies because it makes meeting attendance more accessible, and it also reduces travel and accommodation expenses.

Of course, the downside to not having interpreters physically present is that we’re not around to interpret during the informal parts of the day, such as coffee breaks and networking dinners. This is often where the most valuable conversations happen, in my experience.

Another challenge is ensuring the technology works so that everyone can communicate seamlessly.

From my own experience, the number one rule for hybrid meetings is this: always check the Wi-Fi connection at the venue. Without a stable connection, the whole setup can collapse.

Here are some more tips to ensure your hybrid meeting goes smoothly:

• Hire an on-site technician to deal with tech set-up, such as testing microphones, headsets and connections before the meeting. They can also troubleshoot any issues which crop up during the meeting.
• Use professional microphones, because room and laptop mics often won’t deliver the clarity interpreters need. Position them carefully.
• Share materials such as slides and agendas with interpreters early, so we can prepare and get familiar with your terminology.
• Try to manage the discussion to avoid overlapping speaking. Remote interpreters can only follow one voice at a time.
• Keep cameras on, so your interpreters can monitor facial expressions and gestures – it’s all part of the message,

Interpreted meetings are more cognitively demanding for everyone involved: listeners, speakers, and interpreters alike. Make sure to build in plenty of breaks.

Are you planning a multi-lingual hybrid meeting?

I work with a team of trusted partners to provide a full management service for meetings in Italy, the UK and Ireland, handling everything from venue hire to technical set-up and interpreter selection.

A bridge between cultures

As a native Sicilian, I was excited to hear that plans have been approved for a suspension bridge – the world’s longest – between Sicily and mainland Italy. After decades of discussion but little progress, it now looks like the bridge may finally be built.

It will be game-changing for the island’s residents, who currently have to rely on a ferry service. It’s not a long crossing, but booking tickets, boarding and disembarking all add time and hassle to every trip to the mainland.

The news reminded me of what I do every day as an Italian interpreter: act as a bridge between cultures. When I’m supporting a business negotiation or interpreting in court, I’m ensuring that communication flows clearly and accurately from one side to the other. It’s not just about interpreting words, but the often subtle meaning behind those words and how they’re expressed.

Just as building a bridge requires careful planning, finding the right interpreter to help you cross cultural divides also requires careful consideration.

My agency, One Stop Interpreting Solutions, specialises in sourcing exceptional interpreters for high-level assignments.

I personally select professionals who are not just fluent in their languages, but who also bring cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and absolute professionalism to every job. My clients trust me to provide interpreters who can handle demanding, high-profile assignments with calm and confidence – and I only work with the best.

If you’re choosing an interpreter for an important assignment, here are a few things I recommend looking for:

• Graduate-level qualification
  ​Look for someone with a degree in interpreting from a recognised university.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience
  ​Qualifications are just the starting point – it takes real-world experience to interpret confidently in high-pressure environments. That’s why I only hire interpreters with at least a decade of professional experience.
• Sector experience
  ​Do they understand your industry and terminology?
• Membership of a professional body
  ​Full members of bodies such as CIOL or ITI must meet stringent professional standards and carry out continuing professional development to keep their skills and knowledge fresh.
• Flexibility & problem-solving skills
  ​Assignments don’t always go as planned, so adaptability is essential. If a technical hitch means you need to switch from simultaneous to consecutive interpreting, for example, will ty be willing to do this?
• Collaborative attitude
  ​Is your interpreter happy to work as part of a team?
• Positive reviews & online presence
  ​Look at their website and social media to get a sense of their presentation and personality, and whether it fits with your brand. Do they come across as polished and professional? Testimonials and case studies can also offer useful insight into their working style.

If you’re facing the challenge of finding the right interpreter or translator, I’d be happy to take care of it for you. Just give me a call or send an enquiry via my website and I’ll get back to you straight away to discuss your needs.

Interpreters, have you got your Interactio badge yet?

If you’re an interpreter working on remote or hybrid events, you might want to apply for your official Interactio Badge. It’s a new quality certification created by the remote interpreting platform.

The badge is designed to help clients recognise experienced interpreters. To qualify, you’ll need to have completed:

• Verified compliance with Interactio’s quality assurance and technical standards
• 15 successfully interpreted meetings on Interactio
• A live Interactio interpreter training session
• An approved Interpreter Profile (ISO-compliant evidence on education, affiliations, and language proficiency, and competencies check)

Sharing the Dior story

One of my work highlights this summer was interpreting at an exclusive, invite-only showcase of Dior’s iconic J’adior slingbacks, hosted at Selfridges for the fashion house’s VIP clientele.

I was interpreting for a talented Italian artisan, Catia, who had travelled from her workshop in Venice to demonstrate how she painstakingly crafts each pair of shoes. Watching Catia at work is utterly mesmerising, and I love helping to share the story behind the product with clients.

Dior has always felt like a perfect match for me. I’m enchanted by the brand’s heritage and the devotion to craftsmanship that lies behind every shoe, handbag or dress.

This event was particularly fascinating for me as I own a pair of J’adior shoes myself, which I bought as a treat after I interpreted at Dior’s grand reopening event in London following the pandemic. So I know exactly how exquisite these shoes are – and how effortlessly empowering they feel. Slipping them on is an instant confidence boost!

Dior’s events are always a pleasure to work at. Not only because they’re such elegant affairs, but because I truly feel part of the team. I’ve worked with Dior for many years. While the artisans may change, many of the same clients return time and again — so I’ve become a friendly, familiar face.

It’s a great example of how interpreters can help brands create a warm, welcoming atmosphere at client meetings. We support sales teams by helping them connect with clients and build genuine rapport.

Need help at your next sales event?

The hidden work behind every assignment

Last month, I spent three intense days interpreting at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London.

My role was to interpret for an expert witness as he was cross-examined about a 250-page, highly complex technical report he’d produced.

That meant I had to read the full report in advance of the hearing, as well as a bundle of other legal papers.

New clients are often surprised by just how much preparation goes into my work. Before every assignment, I meticulously review every piece of background material I can get my hands on: meeting agendas, slide decks, briefing notes and reports. I also request participant lists, so I can ensure I’m pronouncing names correctly.

I research the topic under discussion, the companies involved and the wider industry, and I also create bespoke glossaries of industry terms, so that I can translate these confidently on the day.

Clients are sometimes surprised when I request background material, but once I assure them that confidentiality is guaranteed, they’re usually delighted to see their project being taken so seriously. It reassures them that I’m deeply invested in doing an excellent job.

Doing this background preparation is what enables us to deliver calm and accurate interpretation, particularly in cases like the one I carried out last month, where the subject matter was highly complex and the speaker was very fast-paced. Even the judge was struggling to keep up!

Italy’s start-up boom

Italy now ranks among the leaders in innovation and growth. More than a third of companies in the Financial Times’ list of Europe’s fastest-growing companies are Italian.

They range from a sustainable property developer Olla Home Solutions to creative agency Venticento and renewable energy specialists Envidev.

The FT reports that the pandemic accelerated digitalisation in Italy, as consumers became more familiar with buying online, while investors are now more willing to back Italian companies.

If your company has ambitions to expand into or from Italy, I can help at every step: from interpreting during key meetings to translating pitch decks and even providing one-to-one coaching for executives.

Pack light, travel far: my top tips for business trips

After more than two decades criss-crossing the globe for interpreting jobs, I’ve developed my own system for stress-free travel. As summer gets underway, I thought I’d share my best tips for business travel:

I keep scanned copies of important documents securely stored in the cloud. I always pack my passport in the same pocket of my tote, and put it away in the same spot as soon as I get home.

I try to travel the night before an assignment so I can start fresh the next day, but if I need to take an early flight, I skip breakfast and bring a protein bar to eat after I’m through security.

I use my time at the airport to catch up on admin. Fast-track lanes and priority boarding are small extras that pay big dividends in saved time and energy.

I always keep a mini glam-recovery kit close — my secret for arriving fresh-faced, even after a 5 a.m. flight. It includes soothing under-eye patches (a must before high-stakes meetings), hydrating lip balm, and my go-to: a peppermint roll-on oil for an instant sensory reset. Add a touch of tinted moisturiser and a spritz of fragrance, and I’m ready to go from gate to great in minutes.

Instead of a handbag, I carry a tote. It’s structured so I can put it down on the ground without it falling over, and it has a luggage sleeve that fits securely on my suitcase handle.

I always pack a lavender-scented pillow mist spray to help me get to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings after a long day.

I take ten minutes to reset post-flight and refocus. When I jump in a taxi from the airport, I close my eyes, pop in my headphones and listen to binaural beats. Try this playlist on Spotify

Unless it’s midwinter, I leave bulky coats at home and instead bring lots of layers so I can stay comfortable in all settings, from air-conditioned meeting rooms to sweltering al fresco drinks receptions.

I pack a capsule wardrobe in complementary colours so I can mix and match. I use packing cubes to keep shoes, toiletries, underwear and accessories organised.